In this three day lesson, students learn about Charles Darwin -- his personal history, his strengths as an observer and independent thinker, and the process by which he developed his groundbreaking theory of evolution. Students view a short video about Darwin's life, then move onto learning about natural selection and then preform an activity representative of natural selection and survival of the fittest. Lastly learn about other theories of evolution. This lesson contributes or builds toward the goals of the unit as a whole by now using their new knowledge of the structural aspects of evolution and applying it to the workings, or mechanisms of evolution. Applying the previous lessons' definitions and ideas could give them meaning and reinforce them.
Objectives
Understand how Darwin used the scientific process to develop the theory of evolution
10 minutes: Have the students answer the question of the day in their journal.
10 minutes: I will then go over the agenda for the day and explain that today's lesson is important because now that they know what evolution is and know that there is plenty of evidence that could be used to help explain it, now they can start to understand how it works. Next I will show students the video Evolving Ideas: Who Was Charles Darwin?. In this brief portrait, students will discover how Charles Darwin's upbringing, curiosity, and passion for natural history, his voyage on the Beagle, and his reliance on scientific process led to the publication of his book On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection. As students watch, have them look for answers to the following questions: What characteristics made Darwin especially well suited for science? What did Darwin see and do on his five-year voyage aboard the Beagle? Why was the publication of On the Origin of Species a courageous act?
15 minutes: After the video, discuss the questions with the class class.
20 minutes: Lecture on Charles Darwin and Natural Selection
10 minutes: Show students the video Evolving Ideas: How Does Evolution Really Work? As students watch, have them look for the answers to the following questions: What are the key components of natural selection? What kinds of limited resources can create a struggle between individuals in a population? What kinds of variable traits within a population might natural selection act upon? How does natural selection affect the genetic variation within the next generation of the same population?
15 minutes: After the video, discuss the questions with the class class.
10 minutes: Hand out lab for tomorrow. Read directions, explain, answer questions.
Day 2: Origami Birds Activity
10 minutes: Have the students answer the question of the day in their journal. I will then go over the agenda for the day and explain that today's lesson is important because it will give them the opportunity to see firsthand how evolution works.
10 minutes: Clean up and explain the homework, which is to complete the worksheet if they haven't already
Day 3:
10 minutes: Have the students answer the question of the day in their journal.I will then go over the agenda for the day and explain that today's lesson is important because we will look at other people's ideas about evolution and arguments against it. It will give them an opportunity to see multiple perspectives.
Overview
In this three day lesson, students learn about Charles Darwin -- his personal history, his strengths as an observer and independent thinker, and the process by which he developed his groundbreaking theory of evolution. Students view a short video about Darwin's life, then move onto learning about natural selection and then preform an activity representative of natural selection and survival of the fittest. Lastly learn about other theories of evolution. This lesson contributes or builds toward the goals of the unit as a whole by now using their new knowledge of the structural aspects of evolution and applying it to the workings, or mechanisms of evolution. Applying the previous lessons' definitions and ideas could give them meaning and reinforce them.Objectives
Necessary Time
Multimedia Resources
The Lesson
Day 1: Charles Darwin and Natural Selection
Day 2: Origami Birds Activity
Day 3: